Varsity Football

Record breaker

Martinec-led Cardinals finish undefeated

MEADVILLE TRIBUNE

SAEGERTOWN — The 2021 Cochranton Cardinals team has left its mark on the record books at Cochranton High School.

The Cardinals finished the season 7-0 with a 37-0 win against Saegertown on Friday.

It’s the second undefeated team in school history. The first time it happened was in 2003 when the team won the French Creek Valley Conference and lost to West Middlesex in the District 10 championship in double-overtime.

The team has been led all season by a lights out defense and the legs of Jack Martinec. Martinec set the single season rushing yards and touchdown records with 1,682 yards and 22 touchdowns. The previous records were held by Kris Kersey, who ran for 1,527 yards in 2003 and Kevin Brenot, who ran for 19 touchdowns in 1992. On Friday, Martinec ran for 258 yards and four touchdowns. It was the sixth time this season he has ran for more than 200 yards in a game.

Defensively, the Cardinals shut out the Panthers. It was the Cards fourth shutout on the season and third-in-arow.

Stephen Martinec added 111 yards and a touchdown on the ground for Cochranton. Blake Foulk had 46 yards on six carries.

For Saegertown, Aaron Shartle led the team with 67 yards on the ground.

The Panthers (2-5) are scheduled to play Mercer next Friday for a season- finale.

Cochranton’s regular season is over. The Class 1A playoffs are scheduled to begin next Friday. The brackets are set to be released on Sunday.

Cambridge Springs wins 35-21 battle over Saegertown

By Mary Ann Mook

SPECIAL TO THE TRIBUNE

CAMBRIDGE SPRINGS — Saturday night was a Blueout at Baird Field in Cambridge Springs, in honor of Harley Huya, a middle school student and football player who is battling brain cancer. The Blue Devil community came together to raise funds for Harley, who will soon undergo more than six weeks of radiation treatment.

It was also senior night for the Blue Devils, who hosted the Saegertown Panthers in a Region 2 backyard football rivalry.

Cambridge Springs scored 21 unanswered points before Saegertown started battling back. And battle back they did – knotting the score at 21 at the end of the third quarter.

But the Blue Devils kept the Panthers at bay in the fourth, while scoring 14 points of their own, giving Cambridge Springs a 35-21 victory for the seniors.

And no senior had a better night than Blue Devil Garrett Hodak, who scored two touchdowns in the fourth quarter. He racked up 202 yards on 25 carries.

Cambridge Springs coach Nathan Liberty called it nothing less than “a great game.”

“It was a huge night for these seniors – going out on top,” Liberty said.” Garrett Hodak – at the end – that was amazing. It was super exciting and a great job by the line.

“Saegertown did come back, and I was really worried, but it was a great game for these fans.”

Blue Devil Van Jones started the scoring rout, hitting paydirt from eight yards out with 7:39 showing in the first quarter. Kyle Banik then had a pick six, intercepting a Saegertown pass and running the ball into the end zone for a 12-0 lead. Hodak’s 2-point conversion put the Blue Devils up 14-0 In the second quarter, Cambridge Springs’ James Sherman scored on a 10-yard run, and the PAT gave Cambridge a 21-0 lead.

Saegertown’s Sully Zirkle then connected with Zachary Yoder on a 40-yard pass to put the Panthers on the board 21-6.

Saegertown added another score before the half when Zirkle made a four-yard TD and Josh Perrine’s 2-point conversion narrowed the gap to 21-14.

In the third, Zirkle jumped into the end zone from one yard out, and Perrine’s PAT tied the score.

Then came Hodak’s big fourth quarter, and a breathtaking win that electrified the hometown crowd.

Hodak scored on a fiveyard run with 3:05 left in the game. The extra-point attempt failed, but Cambridge had a 27-21 lead.

Saegertown failed to score on its next possession. Then, when Saegertown got the ball back on downs, Hodak scored again on first and 10 from the 41-yard line for a 33-21 Cambridge lead. Tristen Mazzadra caught a Morgan Applebee pass for a 2-point conversion and a 35-21 finale.

On Saegertown’s next possession, Blue Devil Ethan Counasse intercepted a pass to seal up the win.

“Our kids played really well,” Saegertown coach James Wolfgang said. “And Cambridge Springs played a good game.”

Cambridge Springs had 324 total offensive yards to 202 for Saegertown.

Jones had eight carries for 56 yards for Cambridge, and Sherman recorded six carries for 33 yards.

Applebee completed two of six pass attempts for 20 yards. He made one fumble.

Bryce Kania had one reception for 18 yards, and Mazzadra had one reception for two yards.

On defense, Cambridge Springs’ Hunter Haregsin caused Saegertown to fumble the ball, and Jackson Carico recovered the fumble.

Yoder carried the ball 10 times for 71 yards for Saegertown, and Keenan Schaaf had 10 carries for 46 yards. Aaron Shartle had nine carries for 11 yards.

Cambridge Springs travels to Union City Friday night for a Region 2 matchup, while Saegertown hosts Cochranton in another Region 2 battle.

Panthers win 26-24 thriller over Bobcats in region battle

By Mary Ann Mook

SPECIAL TO THE TRIBUNE

SAEGERTOWN — When the Seneca Bobcats came to town to play the Saegertown Panthers in a Region 2 matchup Friday, the two teams put on a show that was nothing short of a thriller.

When all was said and done, the Saegertown Panthers walked off the field with a 26-24 victory on Senior Night.

Give credit to the Panthers’ defense. With six seconds left in the game, the Panthers stopped the Bobcats from scoring from the 10-yard line as the clocked ticked down.

The win lifted Saegertown to 2-2 in Region 2 and 2-3 overall, while Seneca fell to 1-5 overall.

Saegertown coach James Wolfgang told his players that they stepped up.

“It’s a win. It feels good, right?” Wolfgang said.

But he also told them he need four quarters of play.

“We let them back in,” Wolfgang said. “But we turned it up when we need to and make the stops.”

Give credit to the offense, too, like Panther Keenen Schaff, the senior who scored three touchdowns on the night, and Zachary Yoder, who added one TD.

And give credit to Seneca’s Nolan Seabury, who put the Bobcats on the scoreboard in the opening minute of play with a 48-yard run at 11:07. Seabury then ran the ball in for an 8-0 lead.

That score would stand until the third quarter, when Schaaf scored from 43-yards out, narrowing the lead to 8-6.

The fourth quarter is the one that had the crowd pumped, first with Schaaf running the ball in from 20 yards out.

On Seneca’s next possession, Colin Libra answered by grabbing the ball on the kickoff and running it back 80 yards into the end zone, cutting Saegertown’s lead to 20-14.

But Yoder said, “I can do that too,” and returned the kickoff 55 yards for a 26-16 lead.

Seneca’s Anthony Buscemi pulled the Bobcats within two, 26-24, with a four-yard TD to end of scoring.

On the Bobcats next possession, with the clock ticking, everyone held their breath as the Bobcats worked their way down to the 10yard line before the Panthers pulled the plug on them at third and 10.

Saegertown totaled 259 offensive yards to Seneca’s 299.

Saegertown made two fumble recoveries and Seneca made one fumble recovery.

Saegertown threw one interception, while Seneca threw two interceptions.

Yoder carried the ball 19 times for 111 yards, while Schaaf recorded 92 yards on 13 carries.

Saegertown travels to backyard rival Cambridge Springs on Saturday, Oct. 16. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.

Panthers fall to Raiders

GREENVILLE — The Saegertown Panthers dropped a non-region game against Reynolds on Friday 54-28.

Reynolds’ Hayden McLaughlin amassed 323 rushing yards off of 22 attempts and four touchdowns.

Saegertown’s Keenen Schaaf ran for 133 yards and one touchdown in the loss. Aaron Shartle scored two touchdowns on the ground.

Saegertown struck first, but Reynolds held a 26-12 led at halftime. A 28-point third quarter put the game away for the Raiders.

Saegertown dropped to 1-3 overall and will host Seneca next Friday.

Defending homefield

Saegertown cruises past Union City 35-28

By Mary Ann Mook

SPECIAL TO THE TRIBUNE

SAEGERTOWN — The Saegertown Panthers thrilled the hometown crowd with a 35-28 win over the Union City Bears during the Panthers’ homecoming Friday night.

The win put Saegertown at 1-2 in Region 2 and 1-2 overall, while Union City dropped to 0-4, 0-4.

Keenen Schaaf led Saegertown with two touchdowns on the night, while quarterback Henry Shaffer, Aaron Shartle and Zachary Yoder scored one TD each.

Union City lit up the scoreboard first on Austin Sherwood’s one-yard run with 6:19 showing in the first quarter for a 6-0 lead.

Saegertown answered back on its first possession of the night when Schaaf scored on a 74-yard pass from quarterback Henry Shaffer. Josh Perrine’s extra point gave the Panthers a 7-0 lead with 4:43 left in the first quarter.

It looked as though the teams would take a 14-14 tie into halftime before Henry Shaffer hit pay dirt on a 56-yard run for a 21-14 Saegertown lead going into the locker rooms.

Shartle had the only score in the third quarter, plunging in from the oneyard line for a 27-14 lead going into the final stanza.

The fourth quarter saw Zachary Yoder score on a one-yard run and make good on a 2-point conversion to end the Panthers’ scoring with a 35-14 lead.

Union City then threatened with a seven-yard TD by Kyler Shaffer, and a 10-yard run by Shane Stanbro with one minute on the clock, but it was too little too late, as Saegertown fans celebrated the Homecoming victory.

Saegertown coach James Wolfgang said the game was back and forth for a while, and then his team settled down.

“We do well running the ball. The kids blocked well and we controlled the line of scrimmage and executed,” Wolfgang said.

Saegertown had 328 total offensive yards to 310 for Union City.

Schaaf carried the ball 10 times for 71 yards. Shartle had 13 carries for 70 yards, while Henry Shaffer had eight carries for 54 yards and Yoder had seven carries for 47 yards.

Henry Shaffer completed two of three pass attempts for 54 yards.

Schaaf had one reception for 74 yards for Saegertown, while Shartle caught one pass for nine yards.

For Union City, Sherwood carried the ball 10 times for 77 yards. Stanbro had seven carries for 56 yards.

Jesse Kightlinger completed eight of 10 pass attempts for 109 yards, and Kyler Shaffer failed to complete two pass attempts.

Saegertown travels to Reynolds next Friday for an independent matchup.

Saegertown loses big to unbeaten Northwestern

MEADVILLE TRIBUNE

ALBION — Saegertown ran into a buzz-saw against undefeated Northwestern on Friday in a Region 2 matchup.

The Wildcats downed the Panthers 48-12.

Saegertown didn’t score until the third quarter when quarterback Henry Shaffer ran for a 40-yard score.

In the fourth, Aaron Shartle broke free for a 20-yard rushing touchdown.

Both touchdowns resulted in missed extra points to give the Panthers 12 in the game.

For Northwestern, they scored 41 unanswered points in the first half.

Running back Zack Luebke scored first on a 35-yard run.

Then, it was all about the Jake Kelly - Cole Mikovich connection.

Northwestern is now 3-0 and will play undefeated Cochranton next Friday.

Saegertown quarterback Henry Shaffer runs against the Northwestern defense during Friday’s game.

The pair connected 14 times for 308 yards and five touchdowns.

Saegertown drops to 0-3 on the season. The Panthers will face Union City at home next week.

Maplewood versus Saegertown canceled

MEADVILLE TRIBUNE

The Maplewood football team’s home opener on Friday against Saegertown has been canceled because of COVID-19.

PENNCREST School District said the cancellation happened after a close contact to a positive COVID-19 case. Any players or staff who attended last Friday’s game or Monday’s practice are considered a close contact.

In a letter published to the district’s website, Maplewood Principal Kenneth Wolfarth announced the cancellation.

“I regret to inform our Maplewood community that the Friday, September 10, 2021 home opener is canceled. We will notify you if we are able to reschedule the game,” the letter reads.

Head football coach Bryan Borkovich said he hopes to reschedule the game.

“It’s unfortunate that we weren’t able to avoid it. I know we are not the only team who has had to cancel,” Borkovich said. “Hopefully we can reschedule the game since it’s one of only three home games we have.”

Last Friday’s Saegertown vs. Iroquois was also canceled to to COVID-19. If another game is not scheduled for Friday, the Panthers will be off for two straight weeks.

Copyright (c)2021 The Meadville Tribune, Edition 9/8/2021

Saegertown’s home opener canceled

By Sean P. Ray

MEADVILLE TRIBUNE

The home opener for the Saegertown football team has been canceled because of COVID-19.

PENNCREST School District said the cancellation happened after a close contact to a positive COVID-19 case last Friday.

In a letter published to the district’s website, Saegertown Principal Thomas Baker announced the cancellation of the game, which was scheduled for this Friday.

“All football coaching staff, players and cheerleaders who attended the game on Friday, August 27, 2021 are considered close contacts to a positive COVID-19 case,” the letter reads.

Baker said notification will be given if the game is able to be rescheduled. Otherwise, the team will not have a home game until Sept. 24.

Head football coach James Wolfgang said safety comes first.

“It is unfortunate we have to cancel this Friday’s game, but we need to put the safety and welfare of our student athletes and opponents first,” Wolfgang said. “Once we are given the green light, we will be ready and back on the field.”

Copyright (c)2021 The Meadville Tribune, Edition 9/1/2021

Panthers overpowered by Ikes

RUSSELL — The Saegertown Panthers lost a 14-0 Region 2 affair against Eisenhower on Friday.

Eisenhower managed a rushing touchdown in both the second and third quarters. The Ikes kept the Panthers out of the end zone and earned a shut-out.

The Panthers were out-gained 342144. They rushed for 66 yards and passed for 78. Meanwhile, Eisenhower passed for 52 and rushed for 290.

Panther quarterback Henry Shaffer went 3-5 for 78 yards. On the ground, the Panthers were led by Zach Yoder who earned 69 yards.

For Eisenhower, Keegan Eckstrom rushed for 141 and one touchdown. Shawn Pascuzzi (50), Mike Jones (47) and Benji Bauer (35) also chipped in.

Saegertown will face Iroquois next week in their home-opener.

Panthers look to build on last season’s success

By Alex Topor

MEADVILLE TRIBUNE

Entering last season Saegertown was riding a 38-game losing streak, but it’s not the same old Panthers anymore.

Coach James Wolfgang led his team to a 5-3 season, the first winning season since 2011. The Panthers finished the season on a fourgame win streak.

“I really expect to pick from where we left off the end of last year and continue to build a strong program,” Wolfgang said. “The players had the ability to work together as a team and not only did they have success they changed the culture of the program.”

The biggest challenge will be replacing running backs Jake Reisinger and Jaden Reagle. The duo accounted for 1,335 yards and 16 touchdowns on the ground. The two-headed monster helped lead the team off the field as well.

“Those are two leaders that had a huge impact on changing our culture,” Wolfgang said.

Reisinger was also the team’s leading receiver. He caught 15 passes for 258 yards and three touchdowns.

Despite the loss of the dynamic duo the Panthers return most of their starters from last season. That includes senior quarterback Henry Shaffer.

Shaffer is entering his third year of guiding the offense. He passed for five touchdowns and nearly 500 yards last season. Wolfgang expects a big year out of Shaffer on both sides of the ball.

On the line, Josh Perrine enters his fourth year as a starter and should be steadfast at the guard position. Blake Boylan and Garrett Young should be starter on the offensive line as well.

Sully Zirkle and Zack Yoder, both juniors, could get time at running back or receiver. Keenan Schaaf will also be in the mix to get the ball in his hands.

On defense, Shaffer and Schaaf hope to lock down the secondary with Zirkle and Yoder getting time as well. Perrine, Boylan and Young should be around the ball a lot as linebackers.

“For us to be successful, we will need to have a couple players step up and fill the positions of the seniors from last year. I believe we have the talent, and I am excited to continue watching them grow,” Wolfgang said. “We return most of our offense and defense. We must build on and improve on what we have been doing the past few years.”

Saegertown will open its season at Eisenhower on Aug. 27. They match up against local rivals Maplewood on Sept. 10 and Cambridge Springs on Oct. 16.

Copyright (c)2021 The Meadville Tribune, Edition 8/27/2021